Fox by Mystic Fire 1807 - 1868

Curator: Looking at this small watercolor, there’s a potent symbolism at play. “Fox by Mystic Fire,” attributed to Shibata Zeshin from the 19th century, features a fox conjuring a kitsune-bi, foxfire. What’s your take? Editor: The smoky grays are initially what struck me. There is something unsettling about this wispy fire contrasted by the neatly attired fox; the animal almost feels superimposed, like an after-thought or addition. The style gives it an otherworldly aura. Curator: Foxes, particularly in Japanese folklore, are multifaceted beings. They are viewed as intelligent messengers, and shape-shifters, often associated with both trickery and protection, especially concerning rice harvests and prosperity. The foxfire they conjure? That can lead you astray, or perhaps guide you to enlightenment depending on who's telling the story, so class anxieties are definetly surfacing when reflecting about these stories. Editor: So, foxfire symbolizes ambiguity. In a Western context, fire represents transformation, destruction, and purification. I can't help but read it also in that way. Does this dual symbolism, of Eastern folklore merging with more universally held understanding, challenge our singular readings of folklore? Curator: Exactly! These foxes become complex sites of intersectionality. Consider their historical roles too, how they were often seen as liminal beings—existing between worlds and capable of traversing societal structures and power dynamics, and especially regarding its impact on gender representations. These stories are still important to dismantle colonial lenses. Editor: This shifts the focus towards questioning how the image navigates identity. What aspects are being emphasized, and to what effect? Even in such a delicate watercolor, the layered implications make it potent and relevant for modern interpretations. Curator: That's the crucial point. Despite the deceptive simplicity and delicate rendering, the painting demands a decolonization in terms of perception: a dialogue between cultural symbols, historical contexts, and contemporary power analysis. The whispers of fire are far more intricate when decoded with a sharp understanding of history. Editor: Definitely a painting that continues to burn with insightful analysis. Curator: Indeed. I am convinced the conversation around the watercolor helps to bring into light that images cannot be detached from sociopolitical history and realities.